New Rules Around Wood Smoke Take Effect Today

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 06, 2015

On October 6, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved new rules to protect the public's health by reducing wood smoke. The ordinance goes into effect today, Friday, November 6, 2015. It is designed to raise awareness of wood smoke as a health issue and prevent unnecessary burning when the air quality is particularly poor.

Washington County Public Health monitors daily air quality for levels of PM2.5, a type of fine air pollution caused in large part by wood smoke. Exposure to wood smoke and PM2.5 can be dangerous, especially for children, older adults and anyone with existing respiratory conditions like asthma.

There are two parts to the ordinance. The first addresses the use of fireplaces, wood stoves and wood stove inserts by residents who live in unincorporated Washington County. The ordinance allows the County to issue air quality advisories between November 1 and March 1 every year.

A "red day alert" means that air quality is unhealthy and that no fireplace or wood stove use is allowed, unless burning wood is a person's only source of heat or if a person is low-income and needs to burn wood for financial reasons. A "yellow day" means air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and a "green day" indicates that air quality is healthy.

Today is a "green day."

The City of Hillsboro passed a similar ordinance on October 20, and a "red day alert" will also apply to Hillsboro residents beginning November 20. All Washington County residents are encouraged to avoid burning wood when a "red day alert" is issued, even if the ordinance does not directly apply to them.

"Red day alerts depend on air quality conditions, which vary year to year," says Senior Program Coordinator Matt Davis. "We can't predict when 'red days' will occur but we do expect them to be a rare occurrence. As an example, in all of 2014, we would have had just one."

The second part of the ordinance prohibits yard debris burning year round for anyone who lives in unincorporated Washington County and is eligible for yard debris pick-up from their hauler.

In addition to these new rules, the County is working toward developing a wood stove change-out program that will support families who wish to replace their older, uncertified wood stove or wood stove insert.

Regardless of the red, yellow or green status of the air quality, residents are asked to practice clean burning techniques to minimize pollution, such as only burning dry wood that has been seasoned for at least six months. More information on the safest and most efficient ways to burn wood is available at www.epa.gov/burnwise.

Residents are encouraged to sign up to receive air quality and wood burning alerts for red days at www.publicalerts.org. More information and the daily air quality status can be found by calling 503-846-8744 or visiting www.co.washington.or.us/air.

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